The Night Before Our Wedding, I Replaced Myself With My Best Friend Chapter 02

The Night Before Our Wedding, I Replaced Myself With My Best Friend Chapter 02

Molly blinked, looked down at her gorgeous gown, then shot a helpless glance at Nathan.

“Elena… are you mad? Fine, fine—if you don’t like it, I won’t wear it.”

She shuffled toward the changing room, glancing back dramatically.

Nathan strode after her and caught her wrist. “Don’t change. It looks great.”

He said it, then caught my icy stare and quickly looked away.

“I mean… the bridesmaid dress doesn’t matter. Any one’s fine.”

felt sick watching him scramble for excuses.

“I said I don’t want it.”

The dress. The man. None of it.

I called the clerk over and asked to return the gown. Since it was off-the-rack, not custom-made, they’d refund it, minus a restocking fee.

Nathan’s eyes went wide. “We’re getting married in three days, and you’re returning your dress? Because I took Molly dress shopping without you?”

“She said it was a surprise for you.”

“Elena, think about how this looks. What are you going to wear at the altar?”

I looked at his self-righteous face, and the nausea crept back.

The refund hit my account. I met his gaze, shrugged. “You’ll find out on the day.”

I turned and walked out.

Behind me, Molly’s voice called out, “Elena, don’t be like this. I won’t wear it… Elena…”

Then Nathan’s, low and sharp, “Ignore her. The wedding’s almost here. What’s she going to do, show up naked? I’m warning you, don’t you dare offer to stand in for her.”

So that was his honest thought. A wedding with Molly, even if it was groom and maid of honor.

I went home, throat tight, and started packing Nathan’s things.

That’s when I noticed how much of Molly had seeped into his life.

His tie, her favorite shade of navy blue. His watch, a celebrity collab they both owned. Even his slippers, the ones she’d won at a carnival game.

All of it went into a box.

Halfway through, Nathan walked in. Whatever he’d done with Molly had apparently lifted his mood; he looked light, almost cheerful.

He saw the box and frowned. “What are you packing?”

I looked at him coldly. “You’re moving out tomorrow.”

His expression fell. “Where to? The new place? I thought we agreed Molly could stay there since it’s empty anyway.”

“Elena, she’s your best friend. You’re kicking her out over this?”

After Molly came back to town, she’d whined about having nowhere to live.

I’d begged Nathan to let her crash at the condo he’d bought. He’d been reluctant, cold even. I’d made him breakfast, laid out his clothes, done everything I could to convince him.

He’d finally relented, with a warning. “She needs to find a place fast. It’s weird having an outsider in our new home.”

I’d promised, and I’d helped Molly look, but she said no to every place I found. And Nathan never brought it up again.

I thought he was humoring me. Now I saw it was his first exception for her.

“I said you’re moving in there. I didn’t say she’s leaving.”

I let the words hang, watching his eyes.

Nathan blinked, then his face lit up with unmistakable excitement.